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Background

This is a phase II study testing the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel and cisplatin in recurrent or advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. It forms the basis for the phase III study by Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) comparing this regimin to cisplatin alone.

Methods

Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix who were not curable with surgery or radiation therapy received paclitaxel at a dose of 135mg/m2 as a 24-hour intravenous infusion followed immediately by cisplatin at a dose of 75mg/m2 intravenously at a rate of 1mg/min. Treatment cycles were repeated every 21 days.

Results

The major dose-limiting factors were neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and gastrointestinal toxicities.

Two out of 44 patients died of neutropenic sepsis.

Discussion

The combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin appeared to have a favorable response rate in patients with advanced cervical cancer. Toxicities seemed to be more significant when compared to previously reported regimens of cisplatin-based chemotherapy without paclitaxel. The ongoing phase III trial from the GOG will compare this regimen with cisplatin alone to assess response rate, toxicity, progression-free survival, and survival.

Mar 16, 2010 - The addition of sorafenib to carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer does not show a clinical benefit supporting use as first-line therapy, according to research published online March 8 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.